Circuit closer



Oct. 28, 1941. R, KETCHEM 2,260,715

CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Sept. 22, 1959 INVENTOR.- o y ,/E'fcf/m,

mf, E v

purposes.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CLOSER Roy Ketchem, Philadelphia, Pa.

`Application September 22, 1939, Serial No. 296,138

(Cl. 20D- 85) 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a circuit closer for illuminating a bed room at night, operative automatically when the occupant arises from bed, to illuminate the room or an area adjacent the bed, sufllciently to enable the person to move about without colliding with articles, furniture and the like, and which will automatically be disconnected from a circuit when the person returns tobed and retires thereon, and for other It is a special aim vof the invention to present lower right plates or boards I4 and i5, connected a novel construction in the device operative automatically to. control a. circuit to an electric lamp. It is an especial aim to present such a device which may be utilized by simply inserting it between the mattress and spring of any ordinary bed.

A further object is to provide a novel construction in a switch device adapted to the use indicated.

A still further object is to.provide a novel electrical coupling device adapted to be plugged in to an ordinary electrical outlet, and itself adapted to receive a plug or a. lamp, whereby the lamp therein will be controlled bythe switch device at a distance, and/or a lamp at any distance from the device may be operated.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrange-- ment and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will appear from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a formal fragmentary sectional view of a mattress and spring with my invention in- -corporated therebetween, and illustrating one installation of a light.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of my switch unit with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary' cross sectional view showing the manner of fastening the switch element between the presser plates.

Figure 4 is a cross section of a special pl fixture .devi-ce for use with my invention.

Figure 5k is an outer end view thereof.

There is illustrated a portion of a bed including a part of the frame I0, and a conventional bed spring II, upon which a mattress I2 is laid.

Between the mattress and the spring II there is laid a switch device I3, which includes a switch element of a normally closed circuit, spring operated, and so arranged that the operating element is yieldable to theweight of a person on the mattress to eilect opening thereof. In the present instance, the switch unit comprises upper and around their edges by a flexible closure material I6, which may be rubber impregnated woven fabric of a suitable'kind. The boards in the present instance are held in spaced relation so that the fabric I6 is normally held tauty by means of sponge rubber blocks Il engaged between the boards at each end.

Centrally mounted Aon the lower board I5, there is a switch device comprising pivoted body members I8-I9, having normally divergent operating arms 20, a helical spring 2i being set transversely therebetween in suitable notches formed in the members, and serving as a pivot for the members, the end portions opposite the arms 20 constituting switch jaws `22. Respective arms of the spring 2| are engaged with the jaws 22 so as to press the jaws together normally. One of the arms 20 is secured against the board I5 by means of a staple device 24, the ends of which are inserted through the board and held by nuts 25.

Set in each of the jaws, there are contacts 26, which may be the heads of hollow rivets, the

opposite ends of which are upset in suitable recesses 21 formed in the jaw. Respective wires may be inserted in the stem of the rivets and held by solder as at 28, the bodies of the wires being extended outwardly through a grommet or other fitting 30 engaged in one of the blocks I1 and extending through the fabric I6, as shown. The wires 29 ,are intended to be connected to an electric' service outlet in such manner that they will be in series with a lamp 3I, and in the present instance, this is attained by providing a plugin fixture, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, consisting of a body of molded insulating material 32, y

having two contact tongues 33 and 34 adapted to be inserted in the conventional outlet fixture commonly used in electrical wiring of houses. 'I'he tongue 33 has connected thereto a spring contact 35 within the body 32, and the latter is formed with two apertures 36 in its outer side, one aligned with the spring 35, while the other is aligned with a similar spring 31 at the opposite side of the body 32, the'opening 36 being so spaced as tov readily receive the tongues or blades of any ordinary lead-in plug, which may include a socket adapted to receive the common base of an electric lamp 3 I, or may have wires led therefrom to a distant lamp receptacle, the latter details not being illustrated.

The spring 3'I is connected directly to a plate 38 mounted in the fixture body 32, and to this plate is connected one of the wires 29 ofthe switch device I 3, by means of a screw 33. The prong 34 is formed integrally on a plate l0 to which the plate 38 is attached by an insulating connection 4| of a common form, and plate II) is secured in the body 32 by means of the screw I2 in a conventional manner. 'I'he remaining wire 29 from the switch I3 is connected to the last mentioned plate by means of the screw 43.

The tongue 33 is formed integrally on a plate 4I, which is secured in the body 32 by a screw 45, as shown in Figure 5.

In the present instance, a common lamp receptacle 46 is shown plugged into the fitting 32 in Figure 1, the lamp 3| being engaged in this receptacle so that it will be illuminated while the switch I3 is closed.

It is believed that the use and operation of this device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, the switch device 'I3 with the plates I4 and I5 being positioned at such location between the mattress I2 and spring I|, that when the occupant of the bed reclines for sleep the switch unit will be located beneath the shoulders of the sleeper. Thereby, the weight of the sleeper will press the upper board I4 toward the lower one I5, operating the arm 20 and separating the contacts 26 so that the series circuit between the lamp 3| and the service line 4l will be interrupted. .It will be readily appreciated that as long as the sleeper lies recumbent this circuit will be kept open, and that as soon as the occupant raises himself on an elbow or to a sitting position, the removal of the weight from the board I4 will permit the spring 2| and the swatch of rubber II to raise the board I4, the action of the spring 2| closing the jaws 22 so as to bring the contacts 26 together and complete the circuit again.

It will be understood that while I have described with particuiarity an embodiment of the invention, this is purely exemplary, and various modifications of the construction, arrangement and function of the parts may be made within the scope of the invention, as more particularly defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A circuit closer for the purpose described comprising a normally closed switch and yielding means to hold it in closed position, pressure operated members to operate the switch for opening thereof, including broad plates ofconsiderable area adapted to be inserted between a mattress and a mattress support to communicate force from a substantial area of mattress to the switch device, said means for holding the device yieldingly closed being adapted to sustain normal weight of a mattress and objects thereover, but to yield to the weight oi a person reclining upon a mattress over said plate, said switch device consisting of two pivoted insulated bodies set between the plates and having divergent portions when'the switch is closed, contacting the opposed faces of said plates and adapted to be operated by convergent` movement of the plates, said means to hold the switch in closed position consisting of a helical spring set transversely between the switch members and forming a fuicrum therefor, and having opposite arms engaged with respective members to press them together at one side, of the fulcrum, said switch members having contacts in opposed laces to engage at closed position of the members, respective electrical leads therefrom, the opposite end portions of the switch members being divergent when in closed position and coengaged against said plates whereby they will be operated upon convergent movement of the plates, and a exible material secured about said broad plates, normally heid taut by the yielding means.

ROY KETCHEM. 

